There's a sucker born every minute
and all of Trump's businesses depend on it.
Although there’s no proof P.T. Barnum ever said it, “there’s a sucker born every minute” is often attributed to him. Like Trump, Barnum was known for hawking curiosities and, also like Trump, he took advantage of racism within the country to advance his career and his reputation as a showman and businessman.
And now here we are - the Trump family just announced a Trump mobile phone service, complete with a gold Trump phone (you can’t make this stuff up). So, let’s take a journey into Trump’s past ventures as exemplars of his career as a huckster, one that’s been completely predicated on the notion that “there’s a sucker born every minute.”
Trump Mortgage - he announced his own mortgage company in 2006 and at the time he stated "I think it's a great time to start a mortgage company ... who knows about financing better than I do?" In 2007 the housing market crashed and Trump Mortgage was shut down after being in business for only 18 months.
Trump Steaks - he announced this venture with the Sharper Image in 2007 and at the time stated “"When it comes to great steaks, I've just raised the stakes! ... Trump Steaks are the world's greatest steaks ... Treat yourself to the very, very best life has to offer ... One bite and you'll know exactly what I'm talking about. And believe me: I understand steaks. They're my favorite food." Sharper Image ended the sale of the steaks two months later. Oh, and The Trump Steakhouse in Las Vegas was briefly shut down following 51 health code violations, including expired yogurt and five-month old duck.
Trump Vodka - he announced this venture in 2006 and at the time stated “By the summer of '06, I fully expect the most called for cocktail in America to be the T&T or the Trump and Tonic." The company ended in 2011. Oh, and in that same year his vodkas were being sold in Israel without his authorization.
Trump Airlines - he announced this business in 1988 after purchasing Eastern Airlines. By 1992 the Trump Shuttle ceased to exist as the high debt from the purchase forced Trump to default on his loans, and ownership of the company was turned over to creditors. After this debacle Trump still said “I ran a great airline”.
Trump University - in 2005 Trump opened up is “real estate” university. At the time he said “I went to the Wharton School of Finance ... I have a great feeling for education and for knowledge and learning … I love the idea of helping people, because I’ve had a lot of experience with real estate, to put it mildly." In 2010 four students sued the university for “offering classes that amounted to extended ‘infomercials.” And in 2013, the New York Attorney General sued Trump and Trump University for allegedly defrauding students. The business officially ended operations in 2011.
Trump Entertainment - Trump Entertainment began in 1995 and, subsequently filed for bankruptcy theee times (2004, 2008 and 2014). In true Trump fashion, during a television interview, Trump was asked exactly what he was paid for if he had nothing to do with running the company (as he alleged”. Trump replied "excuse me ... Because of my genius. OK?"
I could go on - there was Trump Ice, GoTrump.com, Trump Magazine, and the New Jersey Generals (among others).
The bottom line
Trump’s recent foray into the mobile phone business, his meme coin $Trump, and his family’s cryptocurrency investments in World Liberty Financial are just another in a long line of grifter enterprises. Oh, and the Trump Media Group stock, as of this writing, has gone from a high of $92 to its current price of $18.57.
There’s a sucker born every minute and that is Trump’s life.